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Promo-Lex Observation Mission of the Presidential Elections of 30 October 2016 states in its Third Monitoring Report the tendency of administrative resources use in promoting a particular candidate/potential candidate for the position of President, cases of offering electoral gifts, denigration and black PR activities, cases when signatures were collected by unauthorised people and stakeholders dodging to report the actual expenditures incurred for signature collection. At the same time, Promo-LEX welcomes the increase in the number of polling stations abroad, but believes it is necessary to further increase their number in at least 6 countries.

During the monitored period, the submission of requests for the registration of presidential candidates came to an end. Out of 24 candidates, 8 failed to submit the application for registration to CEC, 7 of whom are independent candidates.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission welcomes the increase in the number of polling stations opened abroad for the Presidential elections of 30 October 2016 and the efforts made by authorities to inform the voters about the improvement of the access to vote on the election day. Promo-LEX believes it is unjustified to reduce the number of polling stations in the UK and notes, on the basis of the analysis carried out, the need to increase the number of polling stations in 6 countries: Russian Federation, Belgium, Ireland, France, Italy and Romania.

At the same time, Promo-LEX notes with concern the delay in the approval by the MPs of the amendments to the Criminal Code as regards the corruption of voters during the Presidential elections. Failure to timely approve the draft law criminalising the vote buying and failure to apply the provisions of Article 181¹ of the Penal Code for the Presidential elections may jeopardise any liability and penalty to people who will allow such crimes. In this context, the Mission found a total of 10 cases of offering electoral gifts, of which: PDM – 5 cases and PPPSRM – 5 cases.

The quality of data in the State Registry of Voters remains a problem with the decline in voters’ confidence in the electoral process. Observers note several problems that repeat from one election to another: the inclusion of deceased people in the voters list and the failure of addresses included in the Registry to correspond to those indicated in the voter’s ID. In 7 settlements, Promo-LEX observers found that addresses included in the State Registry of Voters did not correspond to those in the voters’ ID. Only inChirsovo settlement of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, the observers found 80 cases when addresses included in the Register were not the same as those in the voters’ ID. The observers also found deceased people included in the Registry of voters in at least 6 settlements.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission notes the tendency of using administrative resources in promoting a candidate or a potential candidate. Thus, during working hours, the representatives from local public authorities of level I and II were actively involved in collecting signatures and meeting with citizens during political and electoral campaigns. The findings revealed at least 20 cases of administrative resources use, of which: representatives of PDM – 13 cases; PPPSRM – 3 cases; PPPN – 1 case; PPMSPR – 1 case; PPPEM – 1 case and the Independent Candidate Vasile Tarlev – 1 case.

The monitoring of the collection of signatures by initiative groups shows that people who were not registered as members of initiative groups acted in the interest of at least 12 candidates. Unauthorized people collected signatures for the following candidates: Mihai Ghimpu (PL), Andrei Nastase (PP PDA), Marian Lupu (PDM), Iurie Leanca (PP PPEM), Igor Dodon (PP PSRM), Maia Sandu (PP PAS), Inna Popenco (PP MPSPR), Valeriu Ghiletchi (IC), Dumitru Ciubasenco (PP PN), Vasile Tarlev (IC), Vitalia Pavlicenco (IC) and Silvia Radu (IC).

Promo-LEX found that, during the monitored period, both political parties, and candidates that announced their intention to participate in the elections of 30 October, had a range of electoral activities. Thus, at least 32 electoral activities were noted, of which: Iurie Leanca/PP PPEM (4 activities), Dumitru Ciubasenco/PP PN (6 activities), Marian Lupu/PDM (7 activities), Igor Dodon/PP PSRM (5 activities), Andrei Nsstase/PP PDA (4 activities), Maia Sandu/PP PAS (2 activities), Mihai Ghimpu/PL (2 activities), Artur Croitor (1 activity), Vadim Brinzan (1 activity).

Of the 24 initiative groups who initiated the collection of signatures, only 11 submitted their financial statements during the entire collection signatures period. No initiative group reported amounts that would exceed the maximum threshold set by CEC in the amount of MDL 576 520. According to financial statements, only 3 initiative groups (PP PSRM, IC Vadim Brinzan, IC Roman Mihaies) indicated material donations and estimated them to the market value. This information is available in the financial documents submitted to CEC.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission notes with concern that at least 2 initiative groups (PP MSPRR and PL) submitted their `zero’ financial statements, despite the fact that they conducted promotion activities, both on online platforms and on billboards. Other 4 initiative groups (PP PDA, PP PPEM, IC Silvia Radu, IC Vadim Brinzan) sporadically indicated some expenditures and `zero’ expenditures in terms of concrete destinations, such as transport, promotion materials, volunteers remuneration. Promo-LEX also notes that no initiative group submitted actual expenditures for advertising on online platforms in order to collect signatures.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission consists of 42 long-term observers who will monitor the electoral process in all constituencies of the Republic of Moldova during 31 August – 30 November 2016. On the election day, Promo-LEX will delegate a short-term observer in each polling station of the country. Promo-LEX EOM will also perform the Parallel Vote Tabulation in all polling stations. The observers involved in the monitoring process sign the Code of Conduct of the Promo-LEX Independent National Observer, assuming the commitment to act efficiently, in good faith and in a non-partisan manner. The activity of all observers is coordinated by a central team consisting of 37 persons.

The activity carried out by Promo-LEX EOM and the “Come to Vote” campaign is currently funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the British Embassy in Chisinau, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Council of Europe. The opinions presented in the public reports of Promo-LEX belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the donors’ view.

For more details, please contact: Tatiana Pascovschi, Communication Officer of Promo-Lex Election Observation Mission: GSM 060804022, e-mail: [email protected]